A Promise To End Her Heartbreak – Extended Epilogue

Walter took a deep breath after wiping his brow.

Resting his hands on his hips, he stepped back and looked at how the work was coming along.

It was a different life than the quiet, lonely one that he had been raised in on that Virginia farm. There was a peace to this that pushed out all memories of his time in the war. 

He liked this most of all, he decided.

A cool breeze brushed by him. It ruffled the collar on his shirt and the hair on the back of his neck. For a second, he was able to forget what a warm day it was outside. 

Early summer and already this hot. He shook his head even with a smile on his face. It was hard not to be happy most days. There was so much good in the world that his heart was so full it was nearly bursting.

There was no way he could have expected all of this in his life.

All he had to do was look up at the house before him. He gave a short shake of his head in disbelief. It was a structure that he had built. With help from experts in town, of course, but he had built it nonetheless. He had the scars on his hand to prove it. The small home was built to withstand storms and the cold, there to keep people dry and safe. He remembered working on every piece of timber, hammering in every nail, and placing that roof on top. 

It was a good home. Simply built and sturdy.

And now, it was growing. He was busy adding on a room to the back of their house. It was time they had something more, he thought. And he wanted it done as quickly as possible.

Again he wiped his brow. The sun was at its zenith, but it didn’t seem ready to drop away just yet.

Walter gave the space another look around. There were moments where he just had to stop and think, wondering if this life was truly his. It hardly seemed possible.

He turned to look behind him. Half a mile away was the family house for the Wells on their ranch. It was closer to the center of their property, whereas this home was on the very edge. They stepped onto the road and only had to walk a couple hundred yards to be right inside Haven Springs.

Between them was green grass and a couple of animals that they owned.

Clara had wanted sheep, so they bought sheep. She tended to them as well as an acre of vegetables that kept fresh food on their table. There was still her bakery right in town beside the sheriff’s office that she worked in one day a week. It used to be three, but things had changed.

Life was always changing for them.

He took a step toward his tools, deciding he could sand down one more log before going inside the house. There were only three more to go and he wanted them done before nightfall. He liked the work and enjoyed using his hands to build. It was like his days on the train tracks, but better. All that he built was meant for himself.

Him and his family.

Just as he was thinking about the future and all that entailed, he heard a clatter.

Something had fallen. Thinking of Clara, his heart leapt with fear. Had something happened? These days, there was always a small risk of losing all that he cared about. Walter moved into action, his swiftness belying his size, as he hurried around to the back door. That one was closest. He shoved it open before running through the hall in search of his wife. Fearing the worst, his eyes darted around.

It felt as though he couldn’t breathe without seeing her. Trying not to panic, Walter looked in the empty space before moving to the kitchen. 

He froze there.

His heart pounded so loudly that he could hear his skull rattling. It hardly seemed possible with his throat thick and his stomach clenched. The fear lingered, making him immobile.

Before him, Clara was leaning over on the floor so that she could pick up a bowl.

There was no danger, no blood, nothing. His gaze looked over the situation carefully to make sure of this. He wasn’t sure he could believe his gaze.

Yet the view before him wasn’t as normal as always. Clara was having trouble bending over. Her stomach was swollen to the size of a watermelon. She had her legs spread apart slightly as she tried to lean down enough to pick it up. Her face looked strained as she was biting her tongue.

Then she caught sight of him and froze.

“Walter?”

Hearing her say his name broke the spell. Walter let out a loud sigh of relief. He wiped his brow yet another time to remove the sweat threatening to fall in his eyes. He couldn’t just stand there any longer. His heart went out to his wife and her hardship, not able to imagine how this was for her.

“Here, Clara,” he assured her as he hurried forward. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he swept forward to easily pick up the bowl. He offered it to his wife just as she crossed her arms at him. “What?”

She just shook her head as a wave of annoyance washed over her. “This is-is ridiculous. I have t-two more months, still. T-two.”

There was sweat across her brow as well, though inside the house was cooler than outside. He had been careful to do that for them in the beginning, building the roof just so and putting in windows where the strongest breezes could come through. There was warmth for the winter and coolness for the summers. He wanted them to be as comfortable as possible. Especially Clara when she was like this.

Big as she was, it simply added to her beauty.

Her hair had grown long over the last five years in their marriage. It was thick and lush, flowing over her shoulders. Since she first became pregnant, he had taken to brushing the long locks for her when they would have long conversations in the fading light. They were precious moments that he looked forward to most nights, eager for time alone together.

She was still as slight as ever except for her large belly. The large belly that carried their child, boy or girl. He didn’t mind one way or another. He loved it already, ever since the moment she had announced the news. 

Walter knew he would always remember that. For every child, he would remember the moment that Clara came to him, hugging him from behind for this moment. She had held him close and sighed quietly before sharing the news. He supposed he should have guessed it was coming. She had been more tired than usual and her thoughts had wandered more than they usually did.

Now, he looked his wife over. She was always going to be his favorite person. He could think of no one else that he ever wanted to be with.

“You are the most beautiful creature to walk this earth,” he told her softly.

A flush crept up her cheeks. Clara pursed her lips as she searched his gaze, looking for lies or a joke, he supposed. But there was none. Of course there was none. His eyes crinkled as he looked down at her to assure her he meant nothing but the truth.

“Honesty,” she had told him when he proposed that fateful evening. “I want honesty in all that we do and say if we marry.”

It had been easy for him to agree to. Already he had assured her and promised himself that he would never lie to her again, not for anything. “Honesty always, Clara.”

Standing in the kitchen, Clara let out a soft chuckle before she reached out for his hand. Once he handed it over to her, she tugged him close to wrap her arms around him. This was difficult with her large belly; besides, his large torso hardly allowed her to reach all the way around him on a normal day. But they managed, having a moment close together.

His lips quirked into a small smile as he felt movement with her stomach. The baby was moving. It had begun moving around a lot more, Clara had said the other week, and would most likely not stop until it was born. If it stopped then, he had joked to her in return. She had just given him a stern look.

Clara’s head rested against his shoulder. He leaned down to breathe in her sweet scent. She smelled like flour and freshly baked bread. It almost made his stomach grumble. He would eat soon, he knew, but didn’t want to take away from a moment like this. They were busier than they had ever been before, so he needed to treasure every second they had together while apart from everyone else.

It was as if the universe knew just what he was thinking.

A second later, he heard whimpering coming from behind him. It was a gentle sort of sound of a young child beginning to wake up from his nap. Walter peaked an eye open to see out the window.

The boy was up earlier than he should have been.

Clara shifted, having heard their firstborn son as well. “He’s…”

“Shh,” Walter tried. “He’ll go back to sleep.”

A small chuckle escaped her lips. Then Johnny could be heard shifting in his little bed with a whine trickling out of his throat. He wasn’t sad or scared, just sleepy and slightly disoriented.

“We need to get him up,” said Clara.

She was always right. But he groaned all the same before letting go of his wife. Immediately he missed her softness and her warmth.

“I’ll get him,” Walter assured his wife as he turned to see his young son climbing up to stand on his little bed. He was getting too big for it and soon would be able to climb out all on his own if they didn’t keep a close eye on him. Little Johnny liked to move around, just like his sister or brother did. Chuckling, Walter scooped up the little boy who began to talk sleepily in words that made no sense. “There you are, my little man. How are you? Can I have a kiss?”

The little boy slapped a hand to his face and then pointed it at him as if to blow a kiss. It never ceased to make Walter smile.

“Oh, Mommy wants one, too,” Clara sang as she came over and joined him at his elbow. “Won’t you give your mother a kiss, Johnny? Please?”

Their son obeyed. He was waking up more by the second with his bright eyes and cheerful smile. His teeth were coming in nicely and his hair grew more unruly by the day. Though Clara’s mother thought it was time to give him a trim, neither he nor Clara could bear the thought of losing Johnny’s sweet little curls.

The two of them stood together, talking in baby talk to Johnny to make him smile and laugh for several minutes. Walter loved being with his son, always desperate to have more time with the boy. 

Everything was going well enough for them lately that he was thinking about giving up his role as sheriff. He didn’t want to take that risk any longer. Though he had talked to Clara several times over the last couple of years about this very matter, there had been small hiccups along the way. He had needed to help with the election for mayor, handle some cattle rustling problems, and sort through some matters when Judge Williamson finally retired. 

It had been a peaceful job for the most part. He had two deputies who were always ready to help out. 

But Walter was done. He was tired of carrying a gun with the worry of having to use it on a person. This just invited violence, and that’s not something he wanted anymore. Not when he could have more time with his family. 

He missed them every second he wasn’t there. And though Clara would never say it, Walter knew she could use the help. She loved the little time she had in the bakery, and he knew that tending to their land and animals was a lot of work. Especially as she prepared to bring their second child into the world.

It was time, he had decided, to commit the rest of his time to his family.

“Oh, what’s the time?” Clara jerked back to look at the window. She inhaled sharply before giving Walter a pat on the shoulder. “Th-the house. Amy! She’s back. Oh, we have t-t-to hurry now.”

“Hm?” Walter asked just as he remembered.

He turned to see his wife hurrying around as she set the bowl aside and started to wrap up a fresh loaf of bread. Clara mumbled under her breath on her way to gather everything into a basket for an evening with her family.

Just after Johnny was born, Amy left for the east coast in Georgia to attend a women’s college. She had wanted to learn more than what a small town could provide her. After saving up for a few years, and with help from the family, his sister-in-law made the trek to the east coast for her education. It was expensive to travel back and forth, so all they had were letters for two years. 

And finally she had returned. Clara had meant to be there to welcome her sister into town upon the stagecoach arrival yesterday, but she had ended up sleeping for a good part of the day. Walter had considered waking her. But he couldn’t, not when he knew how much she needed her sleep.

He had gone to town then with Johnny to have his deputy send a note to Amy and Mrs. Wells at the station, letting them know that they would be there for the following day’s supper. 

When Clara woke up to learn what she had missed, she had been put out and wanted to go to the family house immediately. But then there was some nausea and she eventually agreed that they should wait.

There had been enough waiting. Now, she could go see her sister after two years. 

Amy had written often, sharing about all that she had learned and experienced in the city. She was even bringing home a husband she had met there. The young lady had created quite a life for her, and even he was thrilled with every letter she wrote home. Amy was a spirited young woman with a brilliant mind; both he and Clara were excited to meet the chap who had managed to make her want to settle down.

Grinning, Walter fixed his hold on his son as he helped his wife around the house to gather the few things they needed.

“You don’t need to bring that,” he pointed out when she started to grab the pitcher. “Your mother will have drinks.”

“But…”

He just grinned and shook his head. Clara grudgingly relented before she darted around the house to gather everything else she could manage. She grabbed cloaks for them as well, though the day was warm.

“You never know,” she pointed out.

Perhaps she was right. She usually was. He nodded, choosing to accept this. After washing up Johnny, he helped prepare the basket. Soon it was so full that it was nearly overflowing.

“Shall we ride?” he suggested.

Clara shook her head. “It’s a nice d-tay for a walk. I’ll b-be fine,” she added before he could say anything. Fixing her shawl, she straightened up and gave him a smile. She was already holding the basket as she went to the doorway. “Let’s go.”

Hefting Johnny back into his arms, Walter joined her outside. He pointed out the progress he had made on the next bedroom as they headed down the lane and started toward the family house.

“What d-d-do you th-think her husband is like?” Clara asked as they walked.

“Smart,” Walter decided with a chuckle. 

She beamed at him. “And handsome, perhaps.”

“Not handsome as me, right?” he gave her a wink.

That made her giggle. She nudged him before shaking her head. “Of course not.” Then a sigh escaped her lips. “My little sister is m-married. It’s so strange. So much, so much has happened.”

She was right. There was no way that Walter could have ever imagined that this is where he would end up. He never thought he could be so lucky to have a life like this. Every morning he woke up wondering how he had become so fortunate. 

So much of his early days had been spent fighting to survive. Now, he could celebrate each day he lived with those he loved.

Johnny pointed out the house they were so close to. Walter grinned at his son before turning back to his wife. “And so much still has yet to happen.”

The two of them talked about how much Johnny had grown and how much they were looking forward to the new child to come. They teased each other about the gender as they considered their future and all that could still happen.

“Just think,” Clara said as she inhaled deeply. They had finally reached the house and stood on the porch. The very same porch where they had met just a couple of years ago. He still remembered the way that Clara had stood there, eyes curious and hopeful. She had grown so much since then and yet stayed very much the same. Hopefully, Walter thought, he was the same. “Just think, Walter. If you hadn’t come here…”

“We would have met,” he said decidedly. “One way or another.”

Walter grinned at her as she gave him a look. He didn’t know if that was true, but he liked to think so. One way or another, she was meant to be there for him and the other way around. 

He paused to lean down and kiss Clara. Sometimes he just couldn’t help himself. And she stood there, close and ready for him. They were happy and safe. All was well, he thought to himself, and their future would be the same. He could hardly wait for it all to happen.

 

THE END

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